Drummer&#39;s practice device



Jan. 24, 1950 l H. ADLER 2,495,495

DRUMMERS PRACTICE DEVICE Filled April ze, 1946 1 l y y 1 lNVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 2.4, y195.()

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE DRUMMERS PRACTICE DEVICE Henry Adler, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application April 26, 194.6, Serial No. 665,092

16 Claims This invention relates to percussion and practice devices and more particularly to practice .noise, though it is noted that in some of the .claims the invention is not limited to practice devices nor even to percussion devices.

vObjects of the invention are to provide an improved device or apparatus of this kindwhich produces very little noise, but which enables the .drummer to judge the effect of his strokes on a .real full-sized drum. Othervobjects of the invention are to provide -an improved device of this kind which is adjustable to give different sound effects and which Will yieldably hold the different adjustments.

Additional objects of the invention are to ef- .fect simplicity and efliciency in such devices and to provide an extremely simple portable device of this kind which is durable, and reliable in operation, and economical to manufacture.

Still other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds; and while herein details of the invention are described in the Ispecication and some of the claims, the inven- V;-tion as described in the broader claims is not llimited to these, and many and various changes 'may be made without departing from the scope ;of the invention as claimed in the broader claims.

The inventive features for the accomplishment of these and other objects are shown here- ,in in connection with a drummers practice device which briefly stated, includes a box having a base, front and back side Walls thereon, and a top wall having a central thin percussion portion over which is disposed a resilient pad secured on the top wall. Hinged control doors are provided for the ends of the box and a rotary shaft supported transversely of the box and having an exterior operating knob carries levers fast on the shaft linked to the doors for adjusting the latter by manual operation of said knob. Means are provided for yieldably holding the shaft and consequently the doors in adjusted position.

This practice device is particularly adapted for use by students of drums and percussion type instruments, and is not intended principally for use in orchestras and bands, but is for enabling students to practice Without causing objectionable noise and disturbance. However, with the resilient pad made thinner or removed the device could be used for special effects intended to be heard by audiences. The device is designed so as to allow use in various degrees of sound, tone and volume.

This device eliminates the inconvenience of a large and noisy full-sized instrument and permits students to practice effectively and with full force without annoying other persons. A

A further object of this invention is to provide 2 an improved practice device which althoug emitting sounds of greatly reduced volume, still allows the student to imagine, or visualize, and comprehend the varying eiiects of his efforts. This is accomplished through the use of the enclosed resonance chamber which can be adjusted by means of the control doors. When these doors are opened a certain pitch, tone or volume is produced. As the doors are closed the tone or sound varies in proportion to the angle or degree of closing said doors. This enables the student to practice volume control and constitutes a remarkable advantage over the ordinarily used practice devices. It will also result in an improvement in the abilities of those practicing to perform on the regular sized instruments.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a practice pad wherein the volume control doors are lined with felt so as to produce a muied sound effect when desired.k

A still further object is the provision of the practice pad or slab on the top wall to cause the `drumsticks to spring back and vibrate, reverberate or roll in the same manner as they would on the surface of a regular full-sized drum.

In the accompanying drawing showing, by way of example, one of many possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the practice device; and

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken respectively on the lines 2-2 and 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows of said lines.

My improved drummers practice device comprises a wooden box having a thick elongated rectangular base I Il, longitudinal front and back side walls I I, I2 mounted on the base Within the margins thereof and having alined large-diameter and small-diameter bearing bores I3, L4 slightly above the center of the walls. A top wall I5 secured on said side walls and cooperating with `the walls and base to provide an open-ended resonant sound chamber has a central circular cut-out IB and a communicating longitudinal clearance space I'I in its inner face, said cut-out I6 providing a central thin percussion portion I8 in the top.

A resilient practice pad 20 of rubber or other resilient material cemented or otherwise secured on the intramarginal part of the top face of the top over said thin portion I8 is adapted to4 be struck by the drumsticks and to cause the drumsticks to spring back and reverberate to simulate the action and reduced sound from a full-size drum.

Thick Wooden doors 2l -for the ends of the box may each have a felt lining 2Ia, if desired, and are each hinged by hinges 22 at the outer edge of its lower edge face to the top face ofthe margin of ported in said bearing openings comprises a lar-.ge Y.

diameter portion 23 disposed in the large bearing bore I3, a reduced diameter Y'portion 24 disposed in the small bearing bore I4, va-rrinterrnediate shoulder 25 between the portions, and an operating knob 26 at the exterior of the chamber. A cross-pin secured through the mid-part of the shaft between the shoulder and front'wall projects equal distances Yto form levers 28 pro- 'vided with transverse yapertures in the respective vouter ends receiving the turned inner `ends v3i] of links 3l having turned -outerends 32 `received in screw eyes 33 secured in the upper inner margins 'oi the'doors, whereby -manualrotat-ionfof the knob 26 may simultaneously 'opener close said doors. "The cut-out l-B and space ll-I aifordclearance for La lever 28 and associated llink.

An arcuate series -oi round 'headed studs 35 in the inner Aface of t'the-liront wall AIl adjacent 1 andsaid shoulder 255; anda vhelical icompr-ession spring 38 on the reduced .diameter .por-tion iis lcompressed between said Lwashers, whereby -said Adetent pin 36 is 'zyieldably pressed between the projections 35 andfis adapted yieldablytolholdzthe `shaft and doors in1adj-ust'edfposition r'and to .cam over fsaid projections, :when `lthe knob .is iturne'd, t'o .allow `radj ustmentcf @the rsha'ftf'and .consequently the .'doorsdo fadjus'tthe Ltoneand volume of the sound chamber.

:Inoperation'the padlisbeatlupon by .the-'drum sticks in the same manner as the real Ilrum `is struck; fand the sound volume is controlied by adjustably opening and closing thefdoors 22|. To adjust the doors, lthe =knob 22.6 vpushed .inwardly against'the action of ttlrespring 38, Jto Vdisengage -the vpin 36 fromthegprojections 35, :and while 'so gpressed vthe knob is rotated to fthe le'ft for `right :to open or close the -doors 'the fdesired amount. Then the knob is released, :allowing the .detent vrspin to engage between -the projections lto hold 'the parts in adjusted position.

If itis desired toproduce.amufiied'soundeiect, 'the felt `lining 4i. le maybe rprovidedon the doors; :but .it Vis not Vnecessary 4.to vprovide 'the linings .if the-muffled effect is not `desiredyand withoutthe `felt lining a slightly-different .muffled effect may ibe -obtained by nearly closing -the doors.

The pad 20 may be made softer orzthickert'o `give Aless noise, or .harder .or `thinner `to Sgive more r-noise. Provision of the felt-*lining Zia gives less noise; and the .noise is .increasedas `the -doors -are ,progressively opened.

`My .improved percussion practice device, `.to xsimulate drum effects, with -little ynoise comprises :a -thick wooden box .having thick'doors and side walls thereon and a thick top wall having "a thin .portion-on which .the resilient zpadfissecured 'to -simulate drum jeffects with :little incise when `struck, the -doors .being equally .open 'in any of Yseveral `adjusted positions, .to `cause -the :device t n to give even tones, which is very important to a musician accustomed to the recognition of tone quality. By the adjustment it is possible to simulate the sound of differentdrums when adjusted 'to the required positions.

The resilient pad is secured on the top wall and and extends over and beyond all margins of the circular cut-out and said thin portion; and when the ipad .isstruck near and inwardly remote from said margins it simulates drum sounds when the 4drur'n'i's struck remote from and near the rim respectively.

The thin percussion portion i8 having a thin pad :2li or without the pad forms a percussion portion and is adapted when struck by a drum- Astick 'to give special sound eifects `which can be 'heard by audiences. The *pad 20 secured lover "the tli-in'fp'ort-ion A|"8as"shownforms apercussicn *portion adapted, `when struck jby the drumstick 'in the same manner as a real drum -isstruck, to -emit reduced -volume sounds simulating the sounds of a -realdrum and `-to enable thedrummer to judge the effect `of his strokes onra Ireal 'fullsize drum.

The invention claimedfis:

l. A `drum simulating percussion Adevice comprising a box having opposite l'open ends,a '-sub- .'stantially unobstructed interior 'fa-nd a thin per- `cussion portion =in :its top Wall, fand a resilient .pad secured on -the top wall over-said thin portion.

2. :A .drum .simulating ipercussion device comA uprising. a box :Shaving r'opposite'ppen yends, va su'b'- -stantially runobstructed interior and a thin percussion :portion in fits top wall; doors for said ends, 'and :ieltflinings forsaiddoors. i

.3. ALp ercussion device comprising sa box 'havin 4a :closed 'base-:iront and-back side Walls thereon,

fand 1a top Wall; a )resilient xpad secured .on ythe 4Jtop wall; doors for the `ends of the box; fa 'rotary yshaft supported r`transversely :of the .box :and .having fan exterior operating knob; .levers 'on fthe shaft 4Vlinked x.to the 4doors or :adjusting the latter.; an'dmeans im'yieldably holding the .shaft -a-nd consequently the doers fadjusted position.

4. .In combination, ha wooden box comprising :a base, iront and back side walls ith'ereon, and a top wall secured on said -side walls .to .providea .50 sound chamber and having :a central 'thinportion; a resilient padsecured.'on'the'xtop .wall .over Isaid .thin portion; doors :for the ends of the :box hinged at the .lower 4:part .to .the fbase.; a rotary shaft supported in Asaid fsi'de walls 'transversely :of

-the box and :having :an Iexterior .operating knoh; a crossfpn .secured .through the fshaft to :form opposite levers; .links .piyotally connected tothe jouterendsof the .levers `-and the upper einnercmargin of the doors; fan areuedseseries .of 4rounded .detent .projections `.on .the inner vface `of :the .firent wall coaxial with -the shaft; .fa detentpin :secured .transversely -in fsaid .shaft .and slidable fon and .engageable between the projections; fand spring means yieldably .urging the :shaft .toward the vfront wall, and A.the :detent ,pin to dfand :between the .proj ections.

5. .'A percussiomdevicefcomprisingfa wall there- :on having ta thinportlon; :a resilient :practice .pa Aof rubber cementedron v.the Aintramarginal `:part i'oi the outer face of the wall over .said thin portion adapted when struck *with ldrumsticks ato cause .the -drumsticks to 4:spring back and -`vibrate -to 1simulate the action :and sound .from :a full-'sized drum.

6. .In combination, a wooden box zcomprisingan nfsaidsde -walls--and-cooperatiig with'f thewalls ed soindlchamrid ibase' to providean `open ritral circular'l cutf-ftop wall having''a drumsticks `-tolspring becky-'and reverberate to Isimulate the action and sound from a fullbox having a base, side walls, a top wall and percussion portion in its top wall; thick wooden doors for the ends of the box each hinged at the outer edge of its lower edge face to the top face of the margin of the base in position to close the chamber completely when the doors are upright, and adapted to be adjustably opened to modify the sound from the chamber; and means for controlling the adjustment of said doors.

8. A per-cussion device comprising an openended box having a thin portion in its top wall; doors for the ends adapted to be held in adjusted position; said doors having linings of sound muiiiing material.

9. In combination, an open-ended box having a base, front and back walls, a top wall and a percussion portion in its top wall; said front and back walls having alined large-diameter and small-diameter bearing bores slightly above the center of the walls respectively; a shaft supported in said bearing openings and comprising a large diameter portion disposed in the large bearing bore, a reduced diameter portion disposed in the small bore, an intermediate shoulder between the portions, and an operating knob at the exterior of the chamber; means connecting the shaft and doors for operating the doors; an arcuate series of round headed studs in the inner face of the front wall adjacent to the knob and forming a series of detent projections coaxial with the shaft; a detent pin secured transversely in said shaft adjacent to the back Wall and slidable on and engageable between a pair of washers on said reduced diameter portion against the adjacent side wall and said shoulder; and a helical spring compressed between said washers whereby said detent pin is yieldably pressed between the projections.

10. In combination, an open-ended box having side walls, a top wall having a percussion portion, and doors for the open ends; a shaft across the box rotatably mounted in the side walls having exterior operating means; an arcuate series of rounded detent projections on the inner face of the back wall coaxial with the shaft; and a detent pin secured transversely in said shaft and slidable on and engageable between the projections; and spring means yieldably urging the shaft toward the front wall, and the detent pin to the projections.

11. In combination, a box having a base, front and back side walls thereon, and a top wall; a resilient pad secured on the top wall; doors for the ends of the box; a rotary shaft supported transversely of the box and having an exterior operating knob; levers on the shaft linked to the doors for adjusting the latter; an arcuate series of round headed studs in the inner face of the front wall adjacent to the knob and forming a series of detent projections coaxial with the shafts-"and f afldetntl-pinf l secured` transversely in "-isa-idashaft adjacent 'tolthelbackA walli` and slidable "'on" and.y yiel'd'a'bly engageable ibetween adjacent 'ojectins 5 Y 12..'Azfprcussionislpractice device adapted to '-ffsimulateldrumifectsiwith little noise; comprisv.m'gggfWma-en fboxflhaving ka'substantially unob- Ilfstruct'demterior,:opposite@openends. closedJ base. closed front and back side walls thereon,closed tliick'tpiwallf'having substantially at the midpart of the inner `face a thin portion; a resilient pad securedonithetopfWallover'v said thin porvtion-and adapted whenstruck bya drum stick to "'ive an audible sound to simulate drum; effects.

13. A percussion practice device adapted to produces'oindf- 3ife'cts,V4 comprising` a -fwooden box havinga substantially unobstructed interionlopfipositeppen yends, closed basepelosedifrontland back side walls thereon, closed thick top wall having substantially at the mid-part a thin portion adapted when struck by a drum stick to give an audible sound effect; the opposite open ends effecting even distribution of the sound; doors 'for the opposite ends of the box; and means for holding the doors open in any of several adjusted positions, to cause the deviceto give different sounds.

14. A percussion practice device adapted to produce sound eifects with little noise, comprising a wooden box having opposite open ends, closed base, closed front and back side walls thereon, closed thick top wall having substantially at the mid-part a thin portion; a resilient pad secured on the top wall over said thin portion and adapted when struck by a drum stick to give an audible sound effect; the opposite open ends effecting even distribution of the sound; doors for the opposite ends of the box; means for adjustably opening the doors equal amounts; and means for holding the doors equally open in any of several adjusted positions, to cause the device to give even tone, and to give the different sound effects. y 15. A percussion practice device adapted to simulate drum effects with little noise, comprising a wooden box having opposite open ends, closed base, closed front and back side walls thereon, closed thick top Wall having a circular cut-out substantially in the mid-part of the inner face forming a thin portion; and a resilient pad secured on the top wall and extending over and beyond all margins of said thin portion and adapted when struck inwardly remote from said margin to simulate, with little noise, drum sounds when the drum is struck remote from the rim of the drum, and adapted when struck near said margin to simulate drum sounds when the drum is struck near the rim of the drum.

16. A percussion practice device adapted to simulate drum effects with little noise, comprising a wooden box having a substantially unobstructed interior, opposite open ends, closed base, closed front and back side walls thereon, closed l thick top wall having a circular cut-out substan- 65 tially in the mid-part of the inner face forming a thin portion adapted when struck by a drum stick to give an audible sound effect; a resilient pad secured on the top wall and extending over and beyond all margins of said thin portion and adapted when struck inwardly remote from said margin to simulate, with little noise, drum sounds when the drum is struck remote from the rim of the drum, and adapted when struck near said margin to simulate drum sounds when the drum is struck near the rim of the drum; the opposite REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Mertz June 3, 1913 Number Y Number 10 Number Name Date .Straub Oct. 23, 1928 Sklar Nov. 13, 1928 Messlor Oct. 1, 1935 Morarre Aug. 10, 1943 Lockhart Jan. 11, 1944 Kleinberg Dec. 11, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Switzerland Mar. 1, 1938 OTHER REFERENCES The Music Trade Review, October 4, 1924,

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